US to continue co-op with Azerbaijan on SGC

/By Aynur Karimova - AzerNews/

The U.S., a strategic partner and friend of Azerbaijan, will continue cooperating on the Southern Gas Corridor project and other projects to be implemented in the future.

This remark was made by Amos Hochstein, a Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs at the U.S. Department of State on July 11.

"Today, the delegation has met with President Ilham Aliyev,” he told reporters. “We have discussed the energy security and the role of Azerbaijan and the U.S. in partnership, Azerbaijani gas supply to Europe. This is part of the solution to the energy security problem of Europe.”

Hochstein noted under the leadership of President Aliyev, Azerbaijan has played an important role in transforming an idea into reality.

“The Southern Gas Corridor is being formed. The pipelines are being constructed. We are looking forward to its implementation. As a strategic partner and friend of Azerbaijan, the US will continue working with Azerbaijan on this and other projects in the future. The relations between the two countries are very strong. We intend to collaborate on further projects," he added.

Hochstein appraised the Southern Gas Corridor as a complex project from commercial and technical, as well as political and diplomatic sides.

"The U.S. renders diplomatic and strategic support to this project,” he said. “There are those who want to see the failure of this project. But there are the countries supporting the idea of other pipelines and projects. And I believe that the Southern Gas Corridor project, being implemented by Azerbaijan, is a project which will really ensure Europe's energy security. So, the US government will continue supporting this project at all levels as a major one in ensuring the energy security of Europe."

Commenting on the participation of the U.S. companies in this project, Hochstein said that the U.S. energy sector is totally private.

"We can not tell companies where to invest,” he said. “The US wants to help the companies. Our support is not a business initiative. Our support is strategic."

The Southern Gas Corridor, aimed at diversifying energy supply to enhance Europe's energy security, will connect the Trans-Anatolian and Trans-Adriatic pipelines.

At the initial stage, the gas, which will be produced as part of the second stage of development in Azerbaijan's giant Shah Deniz field, will stand as the primary source for the Baku-initiated energy corridor.

As part of Stage 2 of Shah Deniz field's development, gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of both the TANAP and TAP.